News & Update

Pte. Buckam Singh may have died with only a few of his fellow soldiers around him at a Kitchener hospital 97 years ago, but his life is commemorated each year by hundreds of area Sikhs.

About 300 people gathered at Mount Hope Cemetery Sunday to pay tribute at the final resting place of Singh, a Sikh soldier who died in Kitchener and is buried here.

Local Sikhs, as well as Sikhs from Brampton and the Greater Toronto Area, gathered at the gravesite to commemorate Singh and other Sikh soldiers who served and died for Canada.

They shared prayers in Punjabi and children sang the national anthem and recited the war poem “In Flanders Fields.” Dignitaries laid wreaths at his tombstone.

Const. Amrit Kapoor of the Toronto Police Service said he came to Kitchener to honour the Sikh soldier.

“I represent my service, my heritage and my community,” he said. “I want others to see that a person like me can be a Toronto police officer. I want to give them encouragement that they can do anything they want.”

Buckam Singh’s story came to light a few years ago after Brampton’s Sandeep Singh Brar purchased Singh’s Victory medal from a pawnshop in London, England and, to his surprise, discovered that he had been a Canadian soldier.

Singh was wounded twice in the battlefields of France and Belgium — he took shrapnel in the head, and a bullet in the leg — but it was tuberculosis contracted in hospital that ultimately killed him.

He died at the Freeport military hospital. In the past, Brar has said Singh died alone, but at Sunday’s service he said he’s changed his mind after receiving an email a couple of weeks ago from a soldier who couldn’t be at the ceremony because he is deployed in Egypt.

“He was with his family, his fellow soldiers. They were his family,” Brar told the gathered group, relaying the deployed soldier’s email comments.

Brar’s research led him to Singh’s grave in Kitchener. The annual service at the once-forgotten marker now stands as a tribute to not only Singh and his fellow Sikh soldiers, but to all who have served for Canada.

The ceremony also honoured Col. Amrik Singh Dhillon, who lived in Kitchener and died Oct. 30. His wife, Mohinder Kaur Dhillon, was presented with a framed photograph of her husband.

Dhillon served with the military in India and fought in the India-Pakistan war.

The largest police force in the US is finally allowing Sikh officers to serve in uniform without cutting their beards.
In recent years, major cities in California, Texas, Illinois and Washington, DC, have allowed turbans, while New York City – which is over 40,000 officers strong – has lagged behind.
The city’s finest will now be allowed to don uncut beards, with approval for turbans soon to follow, according to Gurvinder Singh, an officer in the NYPD’s community engagement department. Singh also leads the Sikh Officers Association.
“It took a lot of discussion and a lot of back-and-forth, and we were finally able to do it,” Singh said.
Though dialogue began with former Police Commissioner William Bratton, Singh credited new Commissioner James O’Neill with putting words into action.
Sikh Officers Association worked with New York City Department’s Equal Employment Office and Legal Bureau to allow for this new exception for Sikhs. Similar to other exceptions in the department, all officers who want to serve with beards will have to fill paperwork that will go through appropriate channels before it can get approval.
To-date, the NYPD has allowed beards for individuals who have sensitive skin, provided they obtain a doctor’s note.
Police officer Robin Alfani said this signals a significant change in policy and the department has recently been paying closer attention to religion.
Singh said he is confident that turbans will be approved by next year. The delay is due to ongoing discussions about what standard to use for tying the turban. He added that the future is bright for young Sikhs who might want to serve.

A 105-year-old Sikh helped a group of runners celebrate the group’s first birthday by taking part in a 5km run.

Fauja Singh accepted an invitation from the organisers of the Rutland Water parkrun to take part in their weekly event on the shores of the reservoir.

Mr Singh took up running in his 80s and has since completed eight marathons.

He took part in the event alongside more than 200 other runners.

Sometimes dubbed the Turbaned Tornado and Sikh Superman, he is a world record holder in his age bracket.

His current personal best time for the London Marathon in 2003 is 6 hours 2 minutes and his marathon record, for age 90-plus, is 5 hours 40 minutes at the age of 92, at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

In 2004, Mr Singh, who lives in London, was featured in an advertising campaign for sportswear manufacturer Adidas alongside David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.

Run director Paul Rogerson said: “The star attraction on the day was undoubtedly Fauja Singh the world’s oldest marathon runner, now just 105 years young, who volunteered to be our tail runner for this event.

“The man is a legend in the running world having not taken up running until aged 89 and completing eight full marathons since then.

“Now retired from competitive running we were particularly honoured to have him run with us as this was his third parkrun.”

Rutland Water parkrun director Manjinder Jagdev, of Oakham, a lecturer in education at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, said the past year has been great.

She said: “I met Fauja a few years ago and kept in touch with him. When we were looking for an idea to celebrate our first birthday I thought of him. It was a real pleasure and a privilege to have him there.

The whole park run ethos is to create a happier, healthier community. It’s free, fun and a place to socialise.

“There are parkrun groups all over the world now – allowing people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to run or walk three-miles in an informal, non-competitive setting.

“You don’t have to run – we have people who walk with children in buggies, Nordic walkers, anyone is welcome.

“It’s by a team of unpaid volunteers for the benefit of the community and is proving to be very popular.”

As well as the special guest runner, there was cake for all finishers, and party balloons and bunting on the course, with many runners in Halloween outfits.

To take part, register at www.parkrun.org.uk and head to Rutland Water on a Saturday morning for the 9am run from Normanton Church to the dam and back.

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The 2017 Northern Territory Local Hero is food van founder, Tejinder pal Singh.

His name was announced as the recipient of the prestigious Australian of the Year series award on Tuesday.

The Award recipients will join recipients from all other States and Territories as finalists for the national awards, which will be held in Canberra on 25 January 2017.

For the past four years, Tejinder Pal Singh has dedicated the last Sunday of each month to feeding poor and needy locals of northern Darwin.

After a gruelling 12-hour shift driving a taxi, Tejinder spends five hours cooking up a storm in his kitchen, preparing 80 kilograms of vegetarian curry and rice, which he then serves as a free lunch.
After arriving from the Punjab region with his family in 2006, Tejinder endured a racist tirade of abuse while a passenger which inspired the humble man to break down the negative prejudice associated with turbans.

His work has inspired three other groups to take up the cause to distribute free food to the homeless on Sundays. And the hungry and thirsty come flocking when they see Tejinder’s van, emblazoned with the sign “free Indian food for hungry and needy people.”

“One more step to making awareness about Sikhism and share thoughts. Thanks to teachers and future of my beautiful Australia,” said Tejinder Pal Singh on social media post.

Northern Territory Chief Minister, Michael Gunner, recognised the recipients for their outstanding efforts and contributions to the NT community and the nation.

“These inspirational people epitomise selflessness by often putting others before themselves,” Mr Gunner said.

“We can all learn from their efforts and hard work in helping make our communities and the whole of the Northern Territory a better place to live and work.

“Our recipients hail from vastly different backgrounds yet they all have one thing in common – they have an overwhelming desire to help others.

“It’s often that these are the people who go about their business unrecognised, which is why I’m so pleased that their achievements are being acknowledged.

“I’m sure that all Territorians will join me in thanking our recipients and wishing them well at the national Awards.” Australia Day Council NT Chair, Daryl Manzie, said the Territory Awards recipients are four inspirational Australians.

“These Awards celebrate the achievements of Australians worthy of the nation’s attention and tonight’s finalists, and indeed Award recipients, are no exception to the rule,” said Mr Manzie.

“These are remarkable members of our community who lead by example and inspire others to make a difference locally, nationally and globally. They are willing to stand up for what they believe in, to mentor and to take others on their journey.

“It is an honour to recognise them through this esteemed Award process and I wish them every success as they go on to the national Australian of the Year Award ceremony in January. Good luck and thank you.”

Funding the feast each month from his own pocket, Tejinder attributes his generosity to his deep Sikh faith.

गोमती स्थित अकाल अकेडमी में सुरक्षित दीपावली मनाने सम्बंधी विषय पर पोस्टर प्रतियोगिता हुई। लघुनाटिका के जरिए ग्रीन दीवाली मनाने पर प्रकाश डाला गया। गुरुद्वारा दमदमा साहिब के मुख्य सेवादार सरदार जसवंत सिंह और सरदार बलवीर सिंह ने बच्चों को पर्व के बारे में बताया। प्रधानाचार्य, अशोक सिंह गुलेरिया ने बेसहारा लोगों की सेवा कर दीपावली मनाने का संदेश दिया। कार्यक्रम में हेमलता, हरदीप सिंह, रेहान खान, मुकुल अग्रवाल, भूपदर सिंह, महीश आदि शिक्षक मौजूद रहे। पोस्टर प्रतियोगिता में रविन्द्र कौर, नवरीत कौर, रिशुप्रीत कौर ने प्रथम स्थान, जसमीत कौर और जशनदीप कौर दूसरे स्थान, कोमलप्रीत कौर, सुमनप्रीत कौर और प्रभजोत कौर को तृतीय स्थान मिला।

Darshan Kaur (survivor of 1984 Sikh massacre) was just 21 years old when the mob dragged her husband out of their house by his hair, put a quilt and a tyre on him and set him on fire.

Even after 32 years, she awaits justice.